U.S. Open 2018: Maria Sharapova downs battling 39-year-old Schnyder at US Open

Left-hander Schnyder made her US Open bow in 1997 -- the year of the deaths of Princess Diana in Paris and Mother Teresa in Kolkata.

tennisUpdated: Sep 05, 2018 17:11 IST

Agence France-Presse

New York

Aug 28, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after winning a point in the first set of a first round match against Patty Schnyder of Switzerland on day two of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament(USA TODAY Sports)

Maria Sharapova shattered the fairytale return of 39-year-old Patty Schnyder at the US Open on Tuesday, winning a roller-coaster first round clash 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).

Schnyder, the oldest ever player to make the main draw of a Grand Slam via qualifying, was outgunned by the five-time major champion in the first set and for the majority of the second.

However, she bravely battled back from 1-5 down to 6-6, showing the sort of ability and court-craft which won her 11 titles and once took her to seven in the world rankings.

She even saved three match points in the tiebreaker before Sharapova’s 23rd winner of the night sealed victory shortly before midnight.

“My average match against her is like two hours and 20 minutes so I knew I was in for a battle no matter what my story is or hers,” said Sharapova who is now 21-0 in US Open night sessions.